PlayCleanGo isn't just a slogan for us in Wyoming, it's a way of life, a code, an attitude that we carry through our lives. Whether we are playing outdoors with our families, hiking, hunting,boating, gardening, camping, or landscaping, we can ALL do our part to prevent the spread of invasive species! PlayCleanGo is designed to provide outdoor enthusiasts with a clear call to action to become attentive and accountable for stopping the spread of invasive plants, animals and insects.

The Wyoming Weed & Pest Council and Wyoming Department of Agriculture recently adopted PlayCleanGo (PCG) as our state education campaign, joining the North American Invasive Species Management Association and over 130 other government, non-profit and private sector partners across the US and Canada. The Teton County Weed & Pest District (TCWP) will promote this campaign in 2015. boating, gardening, camping, or landscaping, we can ALL do our part to prevent the spread of invasive species! PlayCleanGo is designed to provide outdoor enthusiasts with a clear call to action to become attentive and accountable for stopping the spread of invasive plants, animals and insects.

Invasive species have been identified as being amongst the worst threats to our nation's natural resources. People are the primary means of long-distance spread. The chief of the United States Forest Service characterized invasive species as a "catastrophic wildfire in slow motion" because of the seriousness of this problem. Invasive plants, for instance, invade 1.7 million acres of wildlife habitat annually (NISIC, '09).

At this time we are not only spreading this important message but making a concerted effort to invite local conservation groups and all outdoor related businesses to partner with PCG. This is a campaign that any state/federal agency, business or non-profit can adopt and utilize as a compliment to their current outreach efforts. Please visit PlayCleanGo.org for more information. As an added benefit, TCWP will be promoting local business partners through our social media platforms. This is a great opportunity to encourage responsible recreation and acknowledge PCG partners. "Working together, we can increase the success of our mutual outreach goals. Please join us and many others in this important endeavor as we band together as never before to increase public awareness," states Erika Edmiston, Supervisor of the Teton County Weed & Pest District.

Wildlife and Habitat 4H Club's 2nd Annual "Win a Weed Pull" Raffle

By Amy Collett, Marketing and Education Program Coordinator

Would you love to have a group of ambitious 4H members pull spring weeds on your property? We have the perfect opportunity for you to "Win a Weed Pull" with the Teton County Wildlife and Habitat 4H club.

If you own property or have a favorite public place to recreate in Teton County, Wyoming you can win a three hour weed pull to be performed in June or July by members of the Wildlife & Habitat 4H club. Ticket sales will begin this week through April 24th at two locations: UW Extension/4H office at 255 West Deloney and the Teton County Weed & Pest office at 7575 S. Hwy 89. The members will sell tickets through the JH News & Guide Home Show scheduled for April 24th and 25th at the Snow King Ice arena. Stop by the Teton County Weed & Pest District booth for your last chance to buy tickets and the 4H members will teach you how to Play, Clean, Go! Tickets will be sold individually for $5 or five tickets for $20.

Take a chance and let this group of 4H members help you with your summer yard work. All across the West noxious weeds have infested millions of acres on both public and private land, reducing native habitat, driving down property values, and destroying recreational opportunities. In Wyoming, it is every landowner's responsibility to control noxious weeds.For noxious weed species that cannot be pulled due to their extensive root systems, a Weed & Pest employee will be present to offer expert advice on control methods. Ticket sales end April 25th and the winner will be called at 5pm. Good luck and may the weediest win!

New Revegetation Guide

By Travis Ziehl, Assistant Supervisor - Weeds

Habitat loss and degradation occurs every day in Teton County. Despite the vast surrounding natural beauty, there are portions of our landscape negatively impacted by both natural and human-induced disturbances. These disturbances, such as fires, mudslides, and the construction of roads, trenches, and buildings, have left our landscape vulnerable to weed invasion. Invasive species have the ability to damage ecosystems by degrading habitat, altering nutrient cycling, and displacing native plants and animals. Removing the invasive species is only one part of the solution. The restoration of disturbed land is essential to habitat recovery. The goal of this section is to provide the steps necessary to combine invasive plant control with the establishment of desired plant species to help improve the chance of restoration success.

What is the Goal?

Defining project goals and objectives is the most important step in planning a weed management or restoration project. To restore habitat most effectively, planners need to clearly identify the target species and why they are doing it. For example, if the target species is livestock, then the goal state could be a sustainable pasture. In contrast, if sage grouse is the target species, then native sagebrush habitat would be the goal state. The 'goal state' for restoration sites should account for; understanding restoration species requirements, what their healthy habitats look like, how ecological communities function and how those communities may change over time. Read more

Upcoming Events

* April 24th & 25th: TCWP at Home Show- 12-7 pm Friday and 10 am-5 pm Saturday. Stop by the TCWP booth to learn about our new education campaign: PlayCleanGo!

* May 9th: TCWP at Eco Fair - 12-5 pm at the base of Snow King mountain. Visit our booth to learn how to reduce the spread of invasive species with PlayCleanGo

Thank you for subscribing to the Teton County Weed and Pest District Newsletter. We hope that you find the information useful! If there are any topics that would be of interest to you, please email me your suggestions.